Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-02-12
BISMARCK BUSINESS.
Progress Of Legislation - 60
Church's Appointments.

o40~A1SA oOox ~ EOS.
Progress Of Legislation - Gov.
church's Appointments.
Special Correspondents Of the Ixrrs.oczAxl
BISMARCK, Feb. 6.-The dogs Of war
will be turned loose again in few day~.
A large lobby is here from Mitchell to
resuscitate the court removal bill, which
passed the house. but Is now slumberiny
in the hands "f the committee. Among
the Mitchellites on the ground il ex-
Chief Justice Edgerton. who says he has
come on business before the supreme
court, but acts for all the world like
man who wants to see the court removed
from Yankton to Mitchell. The bill
will be called up in few days.
Another measure which will excite
much discussion and which will revive
an axKravating question, Is that intro
duced In tho house yesterday, providing
for the disbanding Of the capital COM
mission and the acceptance of the capital
building by the territory. The bin
mskes the governor, secretary and audi
tor commission to take charge Of the
building and disburne the money neces-
sary for its maintenance. 1t also pro-
vides for reappraisement Of the go
acres of land given with the building BY
the citizens Of Bismarck. It Is OK pected
that the capital removal factio.. will OPP
pose this measure. which. II defeated,
will leave the old capital commission
empowered to contract debts and ex-
pend money for the buildings care aud
Improvement.
The house was regaled yesterday with
n lecture by Mrs. Packard, the lady who
was placed In an insane asylum IN Illi-
n"is because Of religious liberAlity. She
advocated the passage of n bill giving
eacl, inmate OF All asylum the right to
choose one corresponding with whom he
may communicate without having let
ters Intercepted. l think this bill will
pass.
Much discussion was indulged In
upon the bill defining the crime of rape
and fixing the age of consent. The bill
40 passed. provides that the consent OF u
girl under fourteen years of age shall
not he accepted as defense.
A bill is now before the council pro-
viding that married women shall have
all the legal rights Of single women,
and shall be entitled to appear in court
In their own names in all actions affect
Ing their rights.
In fact, the legislature has taken q
shift toward the women Of late, und
members are vieing with each other for
popularity among the calico. A wo,nnn's
suffrage bill will be introduced this
week, and will be championed IN the
house by Col. Moore, of Sully county.
the frisky old iron gray colt OF that body,
and in the council by Mr.. Smith, OF
Yankton. 1t will come very near pass
Ing and may become law.
The local option temperance bill has
been favorablv reported, and with sew
eral enthusiastic cham pions In the house,
will pass that body. 1t provides that
whenever 200 voters of a county petition
for special election upon the question
Of tho sale Of liquor, the commissioners
shall call the election, and majority
vote shall decide.
The bill placed before the house yes
terday, appropriating Sl5O.OOO for the
purchase OF seed wheat for farmers
whose crops were destroyed by drouth
or storms last year, IL looked upon with
favor and should pass. II there Is any
question upon which the legislature
should be generous II IL that Of assisting
the farmers Of the territory who have
been couteniinx with intriguing corpo-
rations, scherning usurers and design
Ing elements during the past two years.
An effort will be made to pass the bill
enabling person Whose relative or
friend has been lost In railroad acci-
dent to sue for punitive damages Of
$4,000.
Acting Governor Mccormack has
drawn down upon his head the wrath Of
the people Of Sioux Falls by vetoing tho
bill legalizing their election at which they
voted tsO, 900 to tho Burlington q North.
ern railroad. There are numerous COM
hicting opinions rs O tile proprlety or
legal sounihess Of the veto and 1t Is not
certain that the house will emulate the
example OF the council In passing the
bill over the veto. II 1t does not, then
the citizens Of Sioux Fails who guaran-
teen tho bonds must shoulder the bur.
den.
The bill for the removal Of the United
States court from DeadwoOd ~ Sioux
Falls is now before the council aud may
pass. Odds are against It's passage. how.
ever, as the judges Of the supreme court
now IL the city have stated to members
that they are not desiro,,s Of removal.
The bill for the loratiom Of the Solhiers'
Hume at Hot Springs will he taken up
Tuesday and although 1t may l'ass the
house at the urgent dem md Of the Black
Hills members, fear it will never be-
come law.
The Interest now centers in the Iues-
l ton Of appo,ntments. Gov. Church re.
turns from Huron tomorrow, and will
take the oath Of office Tuesday. On to-
days train came host of the pap hum
ters and the number now ~ the city
grasping for place exceeds that Of any
previous session In the history of the
territory. Among those now OH the
ground are Abe Boynton Of Lennox. l..
~. Johnson Of Ordway. Frank Wilson
Of Pembina, Capt. 0riggs of Grand
Forks. and Joseph Hare of Bismarck,
who are all after railroad commission.